Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

 Waiting is definitely not one of my favorite things to do. Whether it's waiting for my bagel to pop out of the toaster each morning, or waiting to graduate, I simply don't like it. I guess you could say I'm a little impatient. This is unfortunate when it comes to waiting on God's timing. Today's society seems to be a society of instant gratification. We can easily get what we want, when we want it, with most things. This is not the case when it comes to our Savior. I've definitely learned that I'm not going through life on my timetables, but His. Everyone goes through seasons of waiting in their life. It's a time of remaining in that hopeless place when you have all these hopes, dreams, and goals, and wondering how, when, and if God will ever allow them to come true.

  I would say now is a time of waiting for me. I know God has all these great things planned for me to do to spread his love and I don't want to wait. I want to do big things now. I want to experience new people. I want to experience new places. I can daydream all day long about what my life is going to be like post high school. 

What I've learned, though, is that this is one of the greatest times for growing. A time when my life can be completely about my relationship with God. A time of preparing me for what's next. I always think of the saying "Bloom where you are planted." For now, I am planted here and it's my job to serve and love God by serving and loving others. This is a time to learn to trust and draw closer to God the most, while He is preparing me for the purpose He has called me to. This is a time to appreciate the familiarity of family and home before He calls me to the unfamiliar.

It's so easy to forget that God has a purpose for me being where I am at this exact moment. I have no reason to be an idle Christian, doing nothing to further the Kingdom, just because I'm waiting on God to take me to greater places. Straight up - waiting is tough. It can seriously be no fun sometimes. These are the times God has to remind me that if I never had to wait for anything and got everything I wanted right away, why would I need to keep desiring and setting my eyes on the coming back of Christ.

Today, I am resting in the fact that Christ isn't finished working on me yet and He is doing behind-the-scenes work for what's next in my life, as well as yours. Later, I will look back and appreciate this season.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:"

      -Ecclesiastes 3:1

Not of this World

What I'm about to write has been on my mind a lot here lately. I will try my best to not start just ranting. No promises. :)

Unless you are totally secluded from the rest of the world, I'm sure you've heard/seen everything new from Miley Cyrus. Something rising just as quickly are the "grind on me" videos. Boys everywhere are making these videos and posting on social media for all the world to see. Kanye has a look alike Jesus come up on stage with him and sing on his tour and has pictures taken of himself wearing a crown of thorns. 

These people have so much influence on other people's lives, whether they realize it or not. What about those little girls that don't have a good Christian woman to be an example for them? They see Miley and all the attention she's getting, and they can't help but think that the world will accept them if they act like that. They see "grind on me" videos and think that to be desired, they have to compromise their bodies. This is so sad to me. 

What frustrates me the most are people that claim to be Christians and claim to want to be a good example, yet they still listen to the explicit music, still "revine" such distasteful things, and still have filth coming out of their mouth. If you say you are a Christian, but there is no change in the way you live, what's the point? When you say, "Yes, I want to follow Jesus," but don't live like it, unbelievers see no need in seeking salvation. James 3:10 says, "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."

As Christians, we are supposed to be a light in this world. We're supposed to be different; we're supposed to be an example. You're not being an example when you're trying to live the best of both worlds. There's no straddling the fence, here. You don't have to sing along when your friends turn "We Can't Stop" on. And PLEASE don't get all googley eyed when you see immature boys pelvic thrusting to the beat of a song (seriously, boys? Keep it classy.) Trust me, they will take notice. They will see that you're different. And they may even ask you about it. That gives you the perfect opportunity to share your beliefs! 

What I'm saying is that when you tell the world that you are a Christian, you are put on a pedestal. People are going to watch how you act, talk, look. Make people see God through you! Make them see that you are not of this world. Be different! And remember, little ones are looking up at you. 

He's not finished with me yet.

This year has been a huge eye opener for me. It's given me a glimpse of the real world. There's more stress, more pressure, more things to be done, and less time for it all, it seems. There are so many questions I have about my future. What does God want for my life? Where is He leading me? Who does He want me to be? 

But this is what I'm learning: I don't have to have the answers right this instant. He has a master plan for my life. God isn't finished me with yet. He isn't going to leave me to figure everything out on my own. I'm a work in progress. In these times, He is shaping me and changing me into who He wants me to be. Every hardship, along with every great moment I have, is God chiseling me into the young woman He wants me to become. All these times of uncertainty are preparing me for my future. In the end, I will come out exactly the way God formed me to be. In the end, He will reveal to me what path I should take. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:" The time will come when I will hear God's soft voice guiding me into my future, but for now, I can be content in seeking and trusting in Him. 

-Baylee